Bulk beverage dispenser and method of preparing same



June 11, 1963 F. WELTY ET AL BULK BEVERAGE DISPENSER AND METHOD OFPREPARING SAME Filed Nov. 25, 1960 ZNVENTORS FRANK WELTY RAYMONDDWELTYBY 1 3% ATTO NE United States Patent Filed Nov. 25, 1960, Ser. No.71,719 4 Claims. (Cl. 53-27) This invention relates generally to methodsand apparatus for storing, transporting, and dispensing beverages inbulk as distinguished from arrangements utilizing small bottles and cansfor this purpose. The packaging, delivery and dispensing of beverages inand from large capacity unitary containers presents obvious advantagesbut for carbonated beverages, particularly, serious problems arise inthe continuous maintenance of the desired degree of carbonation down tothe end of the dispensing phase. These problems are additional to thosenormally encountered in bulk beverage dispensing which include theabsolute requirement of preventing taste and purity contamination andthe normally desired feature of incorporating an expeliant (fordispensing) integrally in the package as it is delivered to theconsumer.

In order to meet the above requirements and to overcome the statedproblems, we have heretofore proposed, in co-pending United Statespatent application, Serial No. 786,422, filed January 12, 1959, forexample, to provide within a closed pressure container a fluidimpervious bag or barrier of suitable material as regards purity andtaste requirements in which the beverage is contained. Upon filling ofthis inner container with a measured quantity of beverage kept undercontrolled degree of carbonation by suitable temperature and backpressure control an adequate quantity of expellant is injected andretained within the space outside of the bag or barrier but within theinner confines of the pressure container. Since such expellant nevercomes in contact with the beverage, it may be of a wide variety ofsubstances such as compressed air or Freon gas in liquid form, thelatter being preferred since it exerts a fairly uniform and usablepressure over large volumes of expansion.

To complete the assembly of the aforementioned unitary self-containedbeverage delivery and dispensing package we have heretofore proposed toprovide the pressure container with a detachable and scalable cap onwhich is carried the beverage dispensing apparatus and faucet and also,and conveniently, a port for back-pressuring which also serves as aninlet for the expellant. We have also heretofore proposed to manufacturethe bags or barriers separately and to attach the same to the dispensingapparatus of the cap after which the whole assembly is applied to thepressure container preparatory to charging of the same.

The principal object of the present invention is to facilitate theincorporation of the bag or barrier in the pressure container wherebythe cost of providing the same is reduced, and whereby the highestdegree of cleanliness and sterility is obtained on those surfaces withwhich the beverage comes in contact, Further, our method of providingsuch bag or barrier in the individual pressure containers or packages isreadily susceptible of being incorporated, in a semi-automatic manner atleast, in a package processing or charging line.

The sequential steps of our method and the resultant package productmeeting the requirements and problems 3,9Z,939 Patented June 11, 1963outlined above will become apparent upon consideration of the followingspecification and the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown ourpackage product in partially and fully prepared steps.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section of a pressure chamber used by usshowing the barrier bag being formed directly within the vessel; and

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section of a completed bulk packageconstructed in accordance with the principles of our invention ready toreceive the charge of beverage and expellant.

In the drawing reference numeral 10 designates a jarlike container whichmay be made of stainless steel, aluminum, or any other material ofsuitable section and strength to withstand the pressures encountered(normally lbs. per sq. in. maximum) and the mechanical handling to whichsuch equipment is normally subjected. Of course, the material must havesuch fluid impervious qualities inherently or provided by coatings, etc.to prevent loss of expellant pressure during reasonable shelf life. Thevessel 16 has a large month about which is permanently and tightlyaflixed a ring 11 having on its outer periphery suitable lugs tocooperate with fastening elements of a quick-attachable cap 12.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, wemanufacture the barrier bags directly in the individual containers 10,and this is done by inserting a blow pipe 13 into the mouth of thecontainer 10 which blow pipe has gathered on its lower opened end a globof heated thermoplastic elastomer such as polyethylene. Immediately uponsuch insertion, controlled heated air pressure is applied to the pipe 13and a bubble is formed in the plastic globule which expands firstdovmwardly and then forwardly to fill the space within the containertheinner walls of the container serving as the mold for the formation ofthe bag barrier. A partially completed barrier is shown by the referencenumeral 14 in FIG- URE 1.

If the containers 10 are made of such material as has an inherentadhesive affinity for the heated plastic of the barrier 1-4 the innersurfaces of the containers are first dusted with suitable talc or othernon-adhering material to form a non-adherence barrier between theplastic and the material of the container.

For a purpose to be later described, a plastic ferrule 15 is firstsnugly fitted over the lower end portion of the pipe 13 slightly upwardfrom the lower extremity thereof. Ferrule 15 is made of the samematerial as blown or at least of such other material as adheres readilyto the blown material. Adherence is further insured by the heat emittedfrom the globule plastic which is initially in and about the lower endof pipe 13. The flowing progresses until the barrier 14 expands upwardlyto the position shown by the dotted lines 16 in FIGURE 1. At this timethe pipe 13 is withdrawn, the ferrule 15 being suitably restrained fromupward movement during such withdrawal. The film of the barrier 14,however, remains continuous on the outer periphery of the ferrule 15' sothat there is provided a closed film-like barrier whose only opening isthrough the bore in the ferrule 15, which bore may be accurately sizedby control and polish of the outer diameter of the pipe 13 as will beunderstood.

sage of fluids.

We have found that the physical structure of a polyethylene fi'lm blownas described above while being of adequate strength often appears to beminutely porous at least to the extent that the expellant gas and thecarbonating gas of the beverage intermingle to a certain extent,particularly after appreciable shelf life. This, of course, is highlyobjectionable as beverages are most prone to pick up noticeableoff-tastes and since it is desired to closely control the degree ofcarbonation in the beverage. We therefore coat the inside of the formedbarrier 14 with a thin layer of plastic material which willamalgamatewith the material of the blown barrier and which is known tobe absolutely impervious to the pas- One such material is polyvinylidenechloride (H CCl which may be applied in very thin solution form by theinsertion of a suitable spray nozzle through the ferrule 15. Theopenings in the nozzle are so directed, and such pressures andquantities are used, to insure the thorough coating of the inside of thebarrier. Immediately thereafter the excess solution is drained oif theflexibility of the barrier portion which is within the mouth of thecontainer '19 allowing this to be readily accomplished. The solvent ofthe solution remaining in the barrier dries oif rapidly but, if desired,this drying may be accelerated by injecting warm sterile air into thebarrier by a lance extending downwardly through the ferrule 15.

The cap member 112 of FIGURE 2 with appurtenances is generally similarto that shown in our co-pending application Serial No. 56,244, filedSeptember 15, 1960. As such, the cap 12 proper carries a dispensingfaucet 1'7 having an operating handle 18 and having a connectedbeverage-supply shank 19 which extends through and is clamped to thecentral web of the cap member by a lock nut 29. It should be-understoodthat suitable sealing means, not shown, is provided to prevent theescape of expellant gas from the space within the container 11? and cap12 and outwardly of the plastic barrier. Shank 19 carries a connectedrestriction tube 21 having an inlet fitting 22, and as more fullyexplained in my said copending application Serial No. 56,244, thefunction of the fitting 22, tube 21 and shank 19 is to deliver beverageto the dispensing faucet 17 under conditions of reduced pressure andvelocity so that the same may be discharged by the faucet into theconsumers glass in a lazy flow.

Shank 19 of the dispensing apparatus has a cylindrical section 23 ofuniform diameter which is accurately sized to receive the interior boreof the ferrule 15. Completing the assembly of the cap structure is aninlet fitting 24,

disclosed more fully in our co-pending application Serial No. 24,833,filed April 26, 1960, now abandoned, which also is carried by thecentral web of the cap 12 and which is provided for the purpose of backpressuring the container While the beverage is being charged therein andfor charging the assembly with an expellant.

The cap 12 with faucet 17, fitting 24 molded thereon and with shank 19,tube 21 and fitting 22 depending therefrom may be considered as asubassembly of the entire package apparatus. When it is desired to applysuch subassembly to a container which has previously been provided witha barrier 14 and connected ferrule in the manner described above, itwill be understood that the depending fitting 22, tube 21 and shank 19may be thread-ed downwardly through with the bore in the ferrule 15.Immediately prior to such assembly the surface of the bore in ferrule 15is coated with a suitable plasticsolvent adhesive composition. Thiswetting facilitates the drawing of the ferrule 15 over the cylindricalsection 23 of the shank 19 into contact with the nut Again, adequateadditional material and flexibility of that portion of the plasticbarrier which is generally within the projection of the mouth of thecontainer 10 permits this operation to be accomplished either by thefingers or by the use of a suitable tool. Upon the ferrule 15 beingmoved to assembled position, the cap 12 is tightly applied to the ring11a resilient sealing ring 25 being applied to provide a fluid-tightpoint.

With the apparatus assembled in the manner described above, it is nowready for charging, and this may be initated by collapsing the plasticbarrier bag 14, 16 tightly onto the shank 19*, tube 21 and fitting 22 byapplying air or other fluid to the interior of the container 10 butoutwardly of the bag through fitting 24. For this purpose a suitablemating fitting, not shown, is assembled on the fitting 24 to retract thevalve therein. This same mating fitting may be used to conduct theoutflow of fluid under controlled back pressure as the bag is beingfilled with the inflow of beverage through the opened faucet 17. Bycontrolling the temperature of the beverage and the back pressure atwhich it is charged into the package it is possible to retainsubstantially all of the initial original carbonation in the beverage.fter a desired quantity of beverage is charged, the faucet 17 is closedand a suitable quantity of expellant is charged through fitting 24 asexplained above. The charged package is now ready for delivery and, inactual practice, may be stored in the household refrigerator of theconsumer. When it is desired to dispense the beverage, the container islaid on its side with the discharge nozzle of faucet 17 extendingdownwardly. Upon opening of the faucet 17 by the handle 18, the beveragewill be dispensed due to the pressure applied to the outside of thebarrier bag 14, 16 and in turn to the beverage within the bag. Afteremptying, the package is returned to the bottler or brewery where, ifdesired, the expellant may be recovered for reuse and the barrier bageither cleaned and reused or discarded and remanufactured, depending onthe preference of the bottler or brewery. The present invention, byenabling the quick and inexpensive remanufacture of the barrier bagsdirectly in the shipping containers, is most advantageous in that itfacilitates the preparation of new equipment for use and enables thebottler or brewery to thereafter maintain the equipment in service witha minimum of costly handling and assembly work. Further, by the use ofsterile air in the blowing and drying of the barrier bags, highlysterile and sanitary conditions are maintained. By coating the plasticbag as described, the problem of offtaste and contamination of thebeverage is entirely overcome.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. The method of preparing a beverage shipping and dispensing containerof the kind in which a pressurizing expellant is integrally included inthe container assembly and in which the container is provided with anenlarged opening; which consists of gathering a glob of heatedpolyethylene plastic on the lower open end of a blow pipe, insertingsaid end within said opening, applying air under pressure to said pipeto expand said glob into a closed inner container molded by the interiorsurfaces of the first mentioned container, removing said blow pipe,inserting and sealing a beverage dispensing tubular shank in the openingin said inner container caused by the withdrawal of the blow pipe, andclosing off said opening except for the bore through said shank, theresultant assembly being such that a beverage may be charged into saidinner container while a pressurizing expellant may be inserted in thespace within the first mentioned container but outwardly of said innercontainer. I

2. The method of claim 1 including the further step of coating the innersurface of the blown polyethylene inner container with an adherent layerof polyvinylidene chloride (H CCl 3. The method of claim 1 including thefurther step of tightly fitting a ferrule onto said blow pipe adjacentto the lower end thereof before the glob of heated plastic is gatheredon said lower end, said ferrule being of a material to which the heatedblown plastic material will adhere and bond whereby upon said Withdrawalof said blow pipe the only opening into said inner container is the borethrough said ferrule, said ferrule being utilized to seal about saidshank upon the application of said shank to said assembly when preparingthe same for the reception of a beverage and an expellant.

4. The method of claim 3 including the further step of wetting said boreof said ferrule with a solvent-plastic adhesive composition immediatelyprior to insertion of said shank in said bore to thereby facilitate thesliding of said ferrule onto said shank and to insure the absolutesealing about said shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Milneet a1. July 25, 1893 Hufiman Oct. 8, 1935 Meissner Feb. 10, 1959Micallef May 24, 1960 Geisler Dec. 27, 1960

1. THE METHOD OF PREPARING A BEVERAGE SHIPPING AND DISPENSING CONTAINEROF THE KIND IN WHICH A PRESSURIZING EXPELLANT IS INTEGRALLY INCLUDED INTHE CONTAINER ASSEMBLY AND IN WHICH THE CONTAINER IS PROVIDED WITH ANENLARGED OPENING; WHICH CONSISTS OF GATHERING A GLOB OF HEATEDPOLYETHYLENE PLASTIC ON THE LOWER OPEN END OF A BLOW PIPE, INSERTINGSAID END WITHIN SAID OPENING, APPLYING AIR UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID PIPETO EXPAND SAID GLOB INTO A CLOSED INNER CONTAINER MOLDED BY THE INTERIORSURFACES OF THE FIRST MENTIONED CONTAINER, REMOVING SAID BLOW PIPE,INSERTING AND SEALING A BEVERAGE DISPENSING TUBULAR SHANK IN THE OPENINGIN SAID INNER CONTAINER CAUSED BY THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE BLOW PIPE, ANDCLOSING OFF SAID OPENING EXCEPT FOR THE BORE THROUGH SAID SHANK, THERESULTANT ASSEMBLY BEING SUCH THAT A BEVERAGE MAY BE CHARGED INTO SAIDINNER CONTAINER WHILE A PRESSURIZING EXPELLANT MAY BE INSERTED IN THESPACE WITHIN THE FIRST MENTIONED CONTAINER BUT OUTWARDLY OF SAID INNERCONTAINER.